Device for separating dust from gases



. A il 29, 1924. 1,492,116

R. BALMER DEVICE FOR SEPARATING DUST FROM GASES Original Filed Dec. 24,192] 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 55 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

April 29 1924, 1,492,116

R. BALMER DEVICE FOR SEPARATING DUST FROM GASES Original Filed Dec. 24 71921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

scented Apr. 29, 1924.

1,492,116.. U ITED STATES PATENT orrlcs.

ROBERT serum, or 'ronomo, on'raaro, cram.

DEVICE FOB SEPARATING DUST FROM GASES.

Original application flied December 24, 1921, Serial K 1524394. Dividedand this application filed November 8, 1922.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Roam BALMEB, a subject of the King of the UnitedKingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and a citizen 5 of the Dominion ofCanada, and a resident by valuable products of combustion normallycarried off by or with the gases from a combustion chamber through thechimney stack and thus to atmosphere, are separated by centrifugalaction from the gases suspending them and precipitated by gravity, andso recovered.

The objects of my invention are so to construct a refuse disposal plantthat it may occupy a minimum ground area as a complete unit. A furtherobject is so to construct a refuse disposal unit that the valuableproducts of combustion otherwise lost by being carried off with thesmoke and gases through the chimney flues to atmosphere, shallautomatically be separated from the gases with which they are carriedoff and be recoverable as a desired Icy-product, and that these gasesmay be omitted to atmosphere in inocuous condition.

These and incidental minor objects of invention are set forth at lengthin the ensuing description. and means for attaining these severalobjects in the best'forms now .known to be are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectionalview of a refuse destructor plant;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the base of a verticalsmoke flue on the line Il--II of Figs. 1 and 6;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of two pairs of blocks, each blockforming a quarter segment of one section of the spiral core of the dustseparator and collector forming a part of the smoke flue;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of the destructor on theline I'V-IV of Fig. 1;

Serial no. seam.

of a dust collector on the line V-V of igure 6 is a vertical crosssectional view of the dust collector on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5,showing the separate core;

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the dust collectorshowin the arrangement of two flues entering t e smoke flue of thechimney from opposite sides;.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross sectional view of a modified form ofseparator and collector wherein the path of the combustion products isinitially downward and thence upward and outward to the stack;

Figure 9 is a similar view of an alternative modification in which thepath of the combustion products is initially upward, thence downward andoutward to the stack. Like numerals of reference indicate same orcorresponding parts throughout. the several figures. I

This application is a division of my companion application, Serial No.524,794, filed December 24, 1921, for refuse disposal plants.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 4, the numeral 1 is the tippingfloor or platform upon which the loaded refuse carts 2 enter the plant.3 are the covered openings in this floor through which the loads aredumped therefrom. 4 are side walls enclos- 'ing the tipping floor, and 5are windows for admitting light thereto; 9 is the floor above thetipping platform independently supported by the walls 46, which are thewalls of the main building housing the plant and which rest upon thefoundations 49. The walls 4 of the tipping platform are integral withthe walls 47 enclosing a refuse storage bin 10 located immediatelybeneath the tipping floor. 11 are the doors for the extraction of refusefrom the storage bins, 12 the partition walls between these storagebins, and 13 the floor thereof. The walls 47, floor 13, walls 4, andtipping floor 1 form an integral unit supported upon the columns 48resting upon the independent foundations 52. Vertically beneath thestorage bin is the hot air chamber 31 whose floor is the crown 29 of thecombustion chamber 28 situated vertically beneath this hot air chamber.The combustion chamber 28 communicates by the exit flue 27 with thefurnace chamher 21, which is one of a batteryof' furnaces 22 having thesliding covers whose withdrawal permits the collapse of the bottom 19 ofthe feeding hopper '18 located in the furnace loading platform 16,provided with a balustrade 17. From the storage bin- 10 the door 11opens upon the furnace loading "platform 16, the inclined chute 14 fromthe door 11 resting at one end upon the furnace loading platform 16 andbeing hinged at the other to the bin floor 13. 23 is the furnace door,24 the fire grate, 25 the ash pit, and 26 the ash .pit door. The wallsof the series of combustion chambers and of the battery of furnacechambers are each independently supported by the separate foundations50, 50, 50. 30- is the exit flue from the combustion chamber 28, leadingto the dust collector 53 located in the smoke flue leading to the boiler36, thence to chimney 37, and thence to atmosphere. 62 is an opening orpipe for extraction of dust deposited in the dust collector by means ofthe suction'ventilator 63, and 64 is a discharge pipe therefrom. 51 isthe separate and independent foundation of the smoke flue chimney.

41 is an exhaust opening for dust and fumes from the tipping floorcorridor. 42 is an exhaust opening for fumes from the storage bin, bothopenings communicating to the pipe 43 leading to the exhaust fan 44having the delivery pipe 45 leading in any convenient manner, not hereillustrated. to the ash pits 25, as set forth in detail and for thepurposes there elaborated in my companion application above referred to.

As will be seen, the several vertical walls have separate foundationsmutually independent and preferably not at the same levels, and theseveral floors supported by these walls are each out of contact with thewalls supporting the other floors, whereby shocks upon any one floor arenot communicated to other floors. Joints, however, are formed betweenthose walls which dov not support a particular floor and it. These areair-sealed, but permit elastic contact, the general arrangement thereofbeing as follows: the walls 4 forming the corridor of the tippingplatform are capped with channels 7 having upwardly extending sidesconstituting troughs containing sand seals 6 into which extend thedownwardly dependi'ng vertical diaphragms or bafiles which are integralwith the floor 9. Similarly, the wall of the chimney 35- is providedwith a circular channel iron 38 forming by its vertically extendingflanges a trough containing the sand seal 40 entered by the baflles 39downwardly depending from the floor 9,

In the same manner the hot air chamber 31 is surrounded by verticalflanges 32 extending downwardly from the floor 13 and engaging the sandseal 34 contained in the trough 33 resting upon the crown 29 of thechamber 28.

The dust collector 53 shown in Fig. 1, and in an enlarged view in Fig.6, has the entrance 54 from the flue 30xfrom the combustion chamber 28located at the base thereof. The collector comprises essentiall a spiralcore, 55 concentric with its wall 53.

This core has the spiral flange 56 forming U part thereof, forming aspirally ascending path for the gases entering at 54, to which itimparts a rotary motion by virtue of which centrifugal force acts uponthe heavier particles of matter carried thereby, causing them toimpingeagainst the sides of the zig-zag vertical channels 57.

' Figure 3 is a detail of the assembly of one course of the bricksforming the spiral core. These bricks are of two shapes, diagonalmembers being alike, each being one segment of the course and havingvertical extensions adapted to dovetail in corresponding recesses of thecourse above, thus constituting a solid colunm united at the top by thecap 55. One pair of similar bricks, shown in Fig. 3, carry the beginningand end of one revolution of the thread forming the spiral pathway, andthe other pair of similar bricks carry the intervening flight of thethread connectin the beginning and end of portions 0 the same threadborne by the pair adjoining it, as shown in the cut-away portion of thecore illustrated in Fig. 6 and in the plan views thereof shown in Figs.2 and 7.

58 is the passage-way for the main column of gases. 59 are thebeveled-ended bricks forming the sides of the zig-zag channels. 60 arethe bricks or tiles closing the upper end of the 'zig-zag channels.

As shown in Fig. 5, 61 are the horizontal rows of flanged bricks in thewall over the entrance to the dust collector. As shown in Fig. 7, 62 isthe opening or pipe for the extraction of the dust deposited, and 65 anadditional smoke flue entrance. 66 are beveled baflles to deflect, asshown by the arrows, the currents of gases and to impart an initialdirection thereto.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the dust collector isrepresented in more compact form, as may be desirable in certainlocations, but involves the same principle of operation. In Fig. 8, 68is the entrance to the dust collector, having the exterior wall 70, of adownward-upward form, in which the entering gases pass downwardly aboutthe spiral core 55 and around its spiral flanges 56, throwing off bycentrifugal action the dust particles into the zigzag vertical channels57 The gases then pass upwardly through the passage 58 and around thespiral flanges 56 formed upon the core 69 exterior to the central core,the direction of rotation being premeans served by the pitch of therespective flanges the dust being thus thrown oif'and collected by thezigzag vertical channels 57. In Fig. 9 is shown a dust collector of uward and downward form having the exterior wall 73 and the entrance 71through which the gases pass to the passage 58 havin the spiral core 55centered therein, provi ed with the spiral flanges 56. Upon the exit ofthe gases from-the top of the passage 58 they are deflected and returnedthrough the passage 58 downwardly, maintaining their direction ofrevolution and circulating around the exterior core 7 2 provided withthe spiral flanges 56. The whirling efi'ect communicated to the gasesduring their passage through 58 causes thesuspended dust particles toimpinge against the vertical zigzag channels 57 and the dust to fall bygravity therethrough, permitting its removal through the pipe 62. Uponthe downward passage of these gases about the exterior core, theparticles are similarly thrown off and collected by the zigzag verticalchannels 57 and fall downward by gravity and are collected through thesupplemental opening 62 for the extraction of dust, the gases thuspassing to atmosphere through the flue 35.

When a refuse destructor is functioning properly the fire brick liningsof the furnace chamber, of the combustion chamber, and of the accessorysmoke fines are kept incandescent. In this condition such linings areextremely brittle and liable to crack and fall apart if subjected toshocks or vibrations. In the normal operation of a destructor plant,these shocks or vibrations usually arise in two ways: first, by thepassage and arrival of the heavily laden carts or vans, which jar anyroad or bridge over which they pass: and second by the discharge oftheir loads of refuse, which vary in weight from one to ten tons. Thisheavy mass, sometimes falling height, produces a violent shock to thestructure of the storage bin where it is kept prior to being'chargedinto the furnace. As the fires are more conveniently fed from a binplaced as nearly as possible over the furnace, and as for the samereason of convenience the carts or vans should preferably discharge froma position above or beside the storage chamber or bin, it follows thatthe most convenient general relation of tipping floor, storage bin andfurnace chamber is that shown in the accompanying figures. In thisposition of greatest operating convenience, the two sources of shock orvibration, namely the tipping floor and the refuse storage bin. are inclose proximity to the furnace, combustion chambers and smoke flues.with their incandescent. brittle fire brick linings. Such proximityincreases the possibility and the e ects of shocks and v1- from aconsiderable bration communicated from the movement of the carts and thedischarge of their loads, hence the importance of insulating the furnaceand combustion chambers and smoke flues from all rigid contact with thestructure containing or supporting the tipping platform and the storagebin. This is accomplished, first, by keeping the foundations se arate,those carrying the ti ping floor an storage bin being referably eeperthan the others; second, keeping these structures above theirfoundations also free from all rigid contact.

In this way injurious shocks and vibrations from the refuse dumping onthe tipping platform and in the storage bin are kept from affecting thedelicate fire brick structure below and the building and its contentsabove, while at the same time the sanitary ventilation of the tippingfloor is made easier.

When, as in the drawings, the smoke flue communicates with the boiler ina floor above, it is advisable to insulate the flue from any but anelastic contact with the boiler or floor upon which it and accessorymachinery are supported. The contact may be through a sand seal or anyother elastic contact device, the urpose being to save the incandescentbrickwork of the smoke flue from shocks and vibrations.

Another of the special inconveniences of refuse destructor operationwhich it is the object of this invention to eliminate or reduce to aminimum is the large quantities of dust which, swept by the strongcurrent of the gases, from the furnace chamber through the combustionchamber, into the smoke flue leading to the boiler, tend to choke up thelatter, to the serious detriment of its efficiency. and are even carriedup through the chimney and distributed over the neighborhood. The largeproportion of dust in the destructor gases is due to the presence oflarge proportions of dust in the refuse itself, and also to the loosetexture of much of the refuse, and to the use of forced draft, in orderto sustain the high temperatures necessary to decompose and destroy theheavy, difiicult and dangerous gases given off by the heated organicmatter. It may be noted that, whereas in a coal furnace a rate ofcombustion of 30 lbs. per square foot per hour is consideredsatisfactory, a rate of to lbs. is the rate now called for in a refusedestructor. The natural consequence is a-violent movement of air andgases through the fuel on the fire grate and the lifting and sweeping ofmuch light material from the fire grate and into the combustion chamber,mingling with the rushing gases and offering a serious problem of dustseparation which this invention is designed to solve.

Various devices have been generally adopted to catch this dust before itreaches the boiler. Some of them are the use of baflies in a horizontalflue, and others are simply the well-known centrifugal separator. In myinvention I utilize the centrifugal principle to the extent of insertinga spiral core in -the center of a vertical flue. But, in the sides ofthe flue, I construct vertical zig-zag' channels, in the inner wallof'the flue. Into these channels the whirling thrust of the ascendinggases throws all particles of dust as they reach the outer edge of thegaseous column. These vertical channels, moreover, are closed at thetop, so that the natural upward movement of the gases in the channels isarrested. The slackened movement of the gases in the channels makes it'difiicult for the accumulating dust to remain in suspension. To arreststill further the upward movement of the gases in the channels, theseare built with horizontal alternating battles on both sides. As shown inthe drawings, the baffles are made with a sharp bevel or inclinedownwards, so that, while arresting the gas and catching the dust, theyallow the latter to slip easily downward to the bottom of the flue, fromwhich it may be periodically withdrawn either by hand or some convenientmechanical device such as the suction fan shown in the drawing.

The principle of this collector of dust from flue gases is equallyapplicable, with slight variations, to gases flowing vertically downwardinstead of upward, or by the use of concentric ring construction, tocombine in one apparatus both the ascending and descending currents ofgas, as shown in the modifications illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. In theformer application, the gas descends and then ascends. In the latter,the path is reversed, the gas first ascending through the inner ring anddescending through the space between the two rings,the zig-zag verticalchannels as well as the guiding spiral flanges being essential featuresof the inner and outer surfaces of the moving columns of gases in bothmodifications, and the vertical staggered channels in the innerand outerflue walls being also provided.

lVhile the vertical channels may be built all round the inner peripheryof the apparatus, I prefer, as shown in the drawings, to vary the methodof construction for a short distance upward vertically over the entrancepoint of the gases. At this point, I prefer to use, for a short distanceupward, parallel lines of bricks with beveled edges, the bevel beingsharply downward. I prefer this construction for the purpose ofstrengthening the brickwork at that weak point. 1

In a vertical cylindrical smoke flue, the construction of a concentricdust collector which reverses the flow of the gases, as shown asmodifications, is sometimes preferable, but in all cases the underlyingprinciple is the same in these modifications there is provided a centralspiral-flanged core, a cylindrical wall or partltion parallel to thecore, removed therefrom a convenient distance for passage of the gasesand provided with vertical 0 iannels in the face of wall towards thecentral core but spirally flanged onthe outer surface in the reversedirection or inclination to the flanges of the central core, while againat a distance suflicient to allow the free passage of the gases, anouter lining of fire brick with a similar arrangement of verticalchannels is provided, the object being to obtain in substantially thesame exterior length a double course inl which the gas is rotated orswirled by centrally located s iral flanges and the dust particlesimpelle by centrifugal force outwards against the fire brick lining,where they are caught in the vertical channels and H rator from twoopposite points, as convenience may sometimes make advisable, I deflectthe gases, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, by baflies at eachentrance, so set as to send the gases in the same direction as that ofthe spirals on the central core.

.The construction of the spiral core and the speedy repair of same areaccomplished best by the use of the special bricks or blocks formedwhole or in two segments, as shown, and'moulded so as to key into oneanother and form the continuous spiral, whether single or multiple,which is more effective than the interrupted formation.

In the same way, by the use of special radial bricks, either beveled onone face or at one end, all the requirements described for the parallelhorizontal bevels and the zig-zag vertical or staggered channels arebest met.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a refuse destructor, a dust separator comprising a smoke flue, asolid central core therein, a flange spirally disposed about said coreand free from contact with said flue, and grooves vertically disposedabout the lining of said flue.

2. In a refuse'destructor, a dust separator comprising a smoke flue, acentral core therein, a flange spirally disposed about said core, andzigzag grooves vertically disposed about said flue. p

3. In a refuse destructor, a dust separator and collector comprising asmoke flue, means adapted to impart a spiral motion to the insanedust-laden gas passing therethrough, and means adapted to retard theparticles of dust thrown off by the centrifugal effect of such spiralmotion and to permit gravity to act thereon, the said retarding meansconsisting of a plurality of zig-zag grooves vertically disposed aboutsaid flue, the sides of said grooves presenting surfaces opposed to thedirections of movement of the dust-laden gas both in its horizontal andvertical motion.

4. In a refuse destructor, a dust separatorcomprising a smoke flue and acolumnar concentric core therein, said core consisting of a plurality ofcourses of spirallv threaded bricks, each course composed of fourbricks. diagonally disposed bricks being alike and adjacent bricks beingunlike, a dust-laden passage being afforded between the wall of m thesmoke-flue and said core.

5. In a refuse destructor, a dust separator comprising a smoke flue anda columnar concentric core therein, said core consisting of a pluralityof courses of spirally threaded bricks, each course composed of fourbricks. diagonally disposed bricks being alike and adjacent bricks beingunlike, each course affording a pair of threads, the beginning of eachpair registering with the ending of the pair upon the course below it,the periphery of the spiral formed thereby about said core afl'ording aclearance between it and the-flue wall of less width than the depth ofthe spiral thread.

6. In a refuse destructor, a dust separator comprising a smoke flue anda columnar con-v centric core therein, said core consisting of aplurality of courses of spirally threaded bricks, each course composedof four bricks, diagonally disposed bricks being alike and adjacentbricks being unlike, each course affording a pair of threads, thebeginning of each pair registering with theending of the pair upon thecourse below it. and each member of each course having an upwardlyprojecting part adapted to be received in a circular recess formed bythe recessed junction of the members constituting the overlying course,a dust-settling passage being aflorded between the wall of thesmoke-flue and said core.

7. In a dust separator, a central core, a spiral vane thereabout, avertical flue concentric therewith and spaced therefrom, a second fluesurrounding and concentric with. the first-and in communicationtherewith, a spiral vane therein, and a deflector closing the top ofsaid second flue, the dispositions of the respective spirals of thevanes being such as to maintain the initial direction of rotation of theflow of current therethrough.

8. In arefuse destructor, a dust separator comprising a smoke flue, acentral core having a spiral-vane thereabout, a concentric cylindricalpartition midway between said core and the wall of said flue, saidpartition having vertically disposed rojecti'on's upon its interioradapted to afi'or zig-zag grooves therebetween and having a spirallydisposed vane about its exterior, and a deflector adapted to turn thecurrent ascending between the core and cylinder downwardly and throughthe circular opening between the cylinder and flue without affecting itsdirection of rotation.

9. In a refuse destructor, a dust separator comprising a smoke flue, acentral core having a spiral-vane thereabout, a concentric cylindricalpartition midway between said core and the wall of said flue, saidpartition having vertically disposed projections upon its interioradapted to afford zig-zag grooves therebetween and having a spirallydisposed vane about its exterior, a deflector adapted to turn thecurrent ascending between the core and cylinder downwardly and throughthe circular opening between the cylinder and flue without affecting itsdirection of rotation, and a series of ribs extending vertically aboutsaid flue and adapted to afford a plurality of zig-zagged groovestherebetween.

10. In a refuse destructor, a dust separator and collector comprising asmoke flue and bafiies disposed about the intake thereto adapted toimpart a rotary motion to the smoke and gases upon entrance, a centrallydisposed self-supporting core composed of spirally-vaned bricks, adeflecting member adapted to direct the ascending spiral currentdownwardly, a cylindrical member surrounding said core, the interior ofsaid member having vertically disposed ridges affording discontinuousgrooves therebetween, and the exterior of said member having spirallydisposed vanes adapted to maintain the direction of rotation of thecurrent.

11. In a refuse destructor, a vertical cylindrical smoke flue, in thecenter of which is a columnar core having flanges arranged in continuousspiral in the same direction, said flanges being spaced from said flueand adapted to cause a rotary swirling motion in the currents of gasespassing therethrough, said flanges being spaced from said flue.

12. In a refuse destructor, a vertical cylindrical smoke flue, in thecenter of which is a cylindrical core having flanges arranged incontinuous spiral in the same direction and adapted to cause a rotaryswirling motion in the currents of gases passing therethrough, verticalchannels in the inner surface of the wall of the flue open toward thecentral face of the wal s of the flife open toward the central core butclosed at the end furthest removed from .the entrance of the gases.

'14. In a refuse destructor, a vertical cylindrical smoke flue,the-inner surface of whose wall is fluted with vertical channels opentoward the center of the flue these channels being severally closed attheir tops.

15. In a refuse destructor, a cylindrical smoke flue lined with bevel-eded blocks disosed with vertical zig-zag c annels there tween, and aconcentric core in said flue with spiral flanges pitched in the samegeneral direction. V

16. In a refuse destructor', a vertical cylindrical smoke flue linedwith horizontal parallel projectin rows of bricks in its inner surfaceof t e flue wall, as dust arresters and presenting baflle faces opposedto the direction of flow of gases and a centralspiral, flanged core insaid flue adapted the center of the flue.

rection of the rotation of the drical smoke flue having a lining of'fire bricks loose inits individual units and se arate from'the ordinaryfire brick or 0t er I 'linin of the flue, and constructed with horizontaor vertical channels as dust-arresters inconjunction with aspiral-flanged core in 18. In a dust separator an inner cylindricalflue,a central core therein sup orted independently therefrom and a sira vane about said core; an outer oylin rical flue surrounding saidinner flue and concentric therewith; a spiral vane about the exterior vwall of said inner flue and within said outer.

flue, and means adapted to cause the dustladen gas to pass from one flueto the other,

thepitch of the vanes being such that the dis continues.

ROBERT ALMER.

